The only talks taking place between Israel and Iran are those “between our missiles and their targets,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, warning of impending attacks on “very significant targets.”
“We are not engaged in any negotiations, and we will not allow harm to Israeli citizens,” said Katz during a visit to the site of an Iranian missile impact in the coastal city of Herzliya.
“Today, we are about to strike very significant targets—strategic targets, regime and infrastructure targets—inside Tehran,” he revealed, noting that “the Persian IDF spokesperson will call on residents to evacuate.”
“Fordow is an issue that will also be addressed,” he said of reports that the Israel Defense Forces might attack the underground nuclear plant.
When asked whether the United States would join the war, Katz said that at the moment, Washington “is assisting us in defending against some of the attacks, and we are grateful for that.” Katz added that “the decisions of the American president are the decisions of the United States, and we will respect any decision and be thankful for any assistance.”
The head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, told members of Israel’s Unit 8200 on Tuesday that they would soon “break ground” in other war arenas amid the fighting with Tehran.
“You provided the intelligence that opened the path to Tehran and enabled the strike on Iran’s military command. Soon, you’ll break ground in other arenas as well,” he said, per an IDF readout.
“Remember at all times that we are not fighting on just one front,” stated Israel’s top intelligence chief. “We are fighting against Iran, but our eyes are also on our hostages in Gaza, and on the various threats facing our soldiers on the front lines and our civilians on the home front.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said overnight Monday that he wants a “real end” to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, with Tehran “giving up entirely” on its atomic ambitions, CBS News reported.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, referring to the regime’s leadership. He added, “What a shame and waste of human life.”
“Simply stated, Iran can not have a nuclear weapon,” the president wrote. “I said it over and over again. Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later clarified that U.S. forces in the Middle East were currently in a “defensive posture,” stating that the United States would “defend U.S. forces and our interests.”